Levels of Roman Citizenship
The Ancient Roman people had different levels of citizenships that determined their rights. These levels are: Civis Romani - Roman citizens; Civis Romani, Liberti - men who were freed from slavery; Peregrini, Latini - Latins; and Peregrini, Provinciales, Socii - Provincial and Allied Citizens. Each of these levels have different rights. Each citizen had a set of public rights and a set of private rights. The different rights of the social classes are listed below.
Civis Romani: These citizens were the full Roman citizens with the most rights. They were the most likely to gain a position of power.
Rights: Public - The right to serve in the military; to pay taxes; to vote; to participate in Cursus Honorum, or public office; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to lawfull marriage; to keep citizenship, regradless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a
legal trial; to protection from torture; the right to defend in Rome, if accused of treason; and to a legal will.
Civis Romani, Liberti: These were freed slaves, who were only slightly below full citizens. They had slightly less rights.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to keep citizenship, regardless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a legal trial; to
protection from torture.
Peregrini, Latini: These were semi-citizens with half the rights of full citizens.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to keep citizenship, regardless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a legal trial; and to
protection from torture.
Peregrini, Provinciales, Socii: These were the people of all the provinces outside of Italy.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to sue in court; to have a legal trial; and to protection from torture
Full Roman citizens have the most rights out of all the levels of citizenship. Freedmen come next, with slightly fewer rights. Latini had lesser, and Provinciales had the least rights. These statuses usually determined the wealth of the social classes. For example, Full Roman citizens were very wealthy, while the Provinciales were very poor.
Civis Romani: These citizens were the full Roman citizens with the most rights. They were the most likely to gain a position of power.
Rights: Public - The right to serve in the military; to pay taxes; to vote; to participate in Cursus Honorum, or public office; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to lawfull marriage; to keep citizenship, regradless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a
legal trial; to protection from torture; the right to defend in Rome, if accused of treason; and to a legal will.
Civis Romani, Liberti: These were freed slaves, who were only slightly below full citizens. They had slightly less rights.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to keep citizenship, regardless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a legal trial; to
protection from torture.
Peregrini, Latini: These were semi-citizens with half the rights of full citizens.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to make contracts and own property; to keep citizenship, regardless of relocation; to sue in court; to have a legal trial; and to
protection from torture.
Peregrini, Provinciales, Socii: These were the people of all the provinces outside of Italy.
Rights: Public - The right to pay taxes; to vote; and to international law.
Private - The right to sue in court; to have a legal trial; and to protection from torture
Full Roman citizens have the most rights out of all the levels of citizenship. Freedmen come next, with slightly fewer rights. Latini had lesser, and Provinciales had the least rights. These statuses usually determined the wealth of the social classes. For example, Full Roman citizens were very wealthy, while the Provinciales were very poor.
The social classes listed determine what rights that those citizens in the classes had. This system is still used in some countries today. The rights and responsibilities of the people in these modern countries are similar to rights and duties that citizens had in ancient Rome.